Dr Douglas Tocher from the University of Stirling in Scotland is a world-renowned expert in both the practical aspects and the molecular biology of lipid nutrition in fish. He will be visiting Sydney in September 2009 to speak at the Oils and Fats conference. This is an excellent opportunity to have him visit Adelaide and Port Lincoln researchers and industry personnel to discuss possible international collaborative projects in finfish lipid nutrition.
Tactical Research Fund: Maximising Benefits Of ITQ Management In The Western Rocklobster Fishery
Funder
Fisheries Research and Development Corporation
Funding Amount
$75,000.00
Summary
The Western Rock Lobster fishery is one of Australia’s most valuable commercial fishery generating a landed value of $191.6 million in 2009.
Rising costs, a strong Australian dollar, increased competition, environmental challenges and the global financial crisis has resulted in a halving of the landed value of the fishery over the last 10 years. This economic performance has been exacerbated by a limited entry management system that creates perverse incentives that lead to overcapitali ....The Western Rock Lobster fishery is one of Australia’s most valuable commercial fishery generating a landed value of $191.6 million in 2009.
Rising costs, a strong Australian dollar, increased competition, environmental challenges and the global financial crisis has resulted in a halving of the landed value of the fishery over the last 10 years. This economic performance has been exacerbated by a limited entry management system that creates perverse incentives that lead to overcapitalisation in catching technology and dissipation of economic rents through competition for catch. In summary maintaining the current management regime for this fishery will inevitably cause continued poor economic performance.
The uncertainty over recruitment into the fishery due to poor puerulus settlement has resulted in management intervention to cut catches to build up breeding stocks has resulted in further declines in the value of the fishery and a rationalisation of boat numbers.
As a result of these pressures in early 2010 both WAFIC and WRLC approached the Western Australian Government requesting that the fishery management arrangements for the fishery be fast tracked to an output control system for the 2010/11 season.
The truncated period for introduction gives the regulatory agency and the industry only 4 months to make the necessary legal and operational changes to ensure its introduction by 15 November 2010.
In order to tap into the benefits that this shift to ITQ can provide there is a need to provide targeted extension on aspects of this management system to a large group of fishermen over a short period of time so as to facilitate a smooth transistion.
The benefits of this reform to the industry and WA community from published reports include:
- Estimates of up to $80 million in additional revenue per annum; and
- Safer workplace and greater crew retention.
Objectives: 1. To inform the Western Rock Lobster industry members of the opportunities that moving to ITQ provide Read moreRead less
Beyond Directional Motivated Reasoning: Social Identity and Partisan Truth. This project aims to develop and test a new model of psychological processes by which people come to understand information as true or not. This project expects to generate advances in knowledge about how different groups produce opposing understandings of the world ("partisan truth"), despite equally rational and unbiased psychological processes. Expected outcomes include the development of a single framework to explain ....Beyond Directional Motivated Reasoning: Social Identity and Partisan Truth. This project aims to develop and test a new model of psychological processes by which people come to understand information as true or not. This project expects to generate advances in knowledge about how different groups produce opposing understandings of the world ("partisan truth"), despite equally rational and unbiased psychological processes. Expected outcomes include the development of a single framework to explain current piecemeal findings, expanding the analysis to current and socially-urgent partisan debates over truth (eg, vaccine hesitancy). Significant benefits include advancing knowledge and the development of guidelines to aid policy-makers and educators in the ultimate reduction of social discord caused by partisan truth.Read moreRead less
Assessment Of Seal Fishery Interactions In The South East Trawl Fishery (SETF) And The Development Of Fishing Practices And Seal Exclusion Devices (SEDs) In The Winter Blue Grenadier Fishery To Mitigate Seal Bycatch By SETF Trawlers
Funder
Fisheries Research and Development Corporation
Funding Amount
$287,245.00
Summary
With the continuing recovery in the size of Australian-based fur seal populations post-sealing, a corresponding increase in seal interactions with domestic fishing vessels is occurring and will continue. There is an urgent need to develop effective seal bycatch prevention procedures to prevent fishing operations from being severely curtailed, or closed down, under the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999.
Following the 1999 winter blue grenadier season, incide ....With the continuing recovery in the size of Australian-based fur seal populations post-sealing, a corresponding increase in seal interactions with domestic fishing vessels is occurring and will continue. There is an urgent need to develop effective seal bycatch prevention procedures to prevent fishing operations from being severely curtailed, or closed down, under the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999.
Following the 1999 winter blue grenadier season, incidental seal mortalities emerged as a major issue that threatened the continuation of this fishery; at least that part of the fishery harvested by factory trawlers. These trawlers had successfully developed the fishery, increasing the total grenadier catch from about 3000 t in 1996 to over 9000 t in 1999. The processed value of the factory trawler catch is now around $20 million per year (ASIC 2003) at first sale. The seal deaths in 1999 resulted in significant pressure from some environmental groups to prevent factory trawlers access to this fishery in 2000. This action would have caused significant loss of income in this sector and possibly jeopardised the future participation of factory trawlers in the fishery. There is a strong need for such vessels to demonstrate that seal bycatch can be reduced by adopting appropriate fishing procedures and gears.
It is also likely that pressures will be brought to bear on the ‘wet boats’ fishing for blue grenadier and possibly the rest of the SEF trawl fleet to take measures to reduce incidental seal captures. The study by Knuckey et al. (2002) indicated seal bycatch to occur virtually across the whole multi-species trawl fishery. Some of the results of the development and testing of SEDs and other mitigation measures by the factory trawlers in the targeted ‘single-species’ fishery under this project may be transferable to other vessel operators in the wider multi-species fishery, helping them to avoid many potential operational problems and costs. Increasing the effectiveness of SEDs in both reducing seal mortalities and minimising fish losses would be an important step in helping to gain wider industry acceptance of the potential use of these devices. Objectives: 1. To improve the effectiveness of Seal Exclusion Devices (SEDs) in blue grenadier trawl nets in reducing seal mortalities and minimising losses of fish. 2. To assess the effectiveness of fishing techniques aimed at minimising seal bycatch. 3. To gather full biological information from all seal fatalities. 4. To achieve full observer coverage of freezer-trawler activities during the 2001 and 2002 winter grenadier fishery and monitor seal numbers around vessels and all seal-trawl interactions. 5. To gather information on seal movements/residence time in the winter grenadier fishery. Read moreRead less
Predicting And Assessing Recruitment Variation - A Critical Factor For The Management Of The Mother-of-pearl (Pinctada Maxima) Fishery In WA
Funder
Fisheries Research and Development Corporation
Funding Amount
$346,257.50
Summary
Historically, total allowable catches (TAC) of respective zones in the pearl oyster fishery have been changed in response to significant fluctuations in the previous year’s catch rate (catch per unit effort). These changes, however, have been influenced by factors other than variations in stock abundance, e.g. as changes in available technology or variations in fishing efficiency due to weather conditions or water clarity.
In order to make more reliable projections on future catch and ....Historically, total allowable catches (TAC) of respective zones in the pearl oyster fishery have been changed in response to significant fluctuations in the previous year’s catch rate (catch per unit effort). These changes, however, have been influenced by factors other than variations in stock abundance, e.g. as changes in available technology or variations in fishing efficiency due to weather conditions or water clarity.
In order to make more reliable projections on future catch and effort there is a need to move away from reliance on retrospective catch data. In order to do this, information supplied to decision makers should include: 1) the size structure (length frequency) of past catches; 2) information on the abundance of pre-recruits (piggyback spat); 3) information on important environmental variables affecting stocks; and 4) other factors affecting catch rate such as water clarity and the use of new technology (e.g. GPS).
A recommendation from Project No. 95/41 states: "The relationship between "piggyback" spat settlement, environmental effects and recruitment to the fishery which can be used to forecast increases/decreases in abundance should be developed. This enables changes to quota to be forecast to allow forward planning in pearl seeding and farm operations."
A framework for the collection of this data is needed, as pearl oyster fisheries have large fluctuations in recruitment over time, and management needs to base quota decisions on the presence or absence of emerging year classes. Collection of this data will give a more stable signal on the "health" of the fishery and allow more confident predictive assessments to be made. Objectives: 1. To establish set protocols for piggyback spat sampling within the pearl oyster fishery and develop a database for the storage of data collected. 2. To establish set protocols for length frequency sampling within the pearl oyster fishery and develop a database for the storage of data collected. 3. To establish a database of factors affecting catch rate. 4. To examine links between spat sampling data set, environmental factors and the abundance estimates for the pearl oyster fishery. Read moreRead less
A Practical Guide To ITQs For Fishery Managers And The Fishing Industry
Funder
Fisheries Research and Development Corporation
Funding Amount
$125,877.00
Summary
Significant problems have emerged in the design and implementation of ITQ systems both in Australia and worldwide. For example, although ITQs were introduced more than five years ago in the South East Fishery (SEF) there is continuing dissatisfaction with the scheme. A recent review by the South East Fishery Adjustment Working Group (1996) pointed out that 'the implementation process from boat units to Individual Transferable Quotas (ITQs) was appallingly handled ...'; and that 'since 1992 there ....Significant problems have emerged in the design and implementation of ITQ systems both in Australia and worldwide. For example, although ITQs were introduced more than five years ago in the South East Fishery (SEF) there is continuing dissatisfaction with the scheme. A recent review by the South East Fishery Adjustment Working Group (1996) pointed out that 'the implementation process from boat units to Individual Transferable Quotas (ITQs) was appallingly handled ...'; and that 'since 1992 there have been at least eight internal or public reviews into various aspects of the SEF, as well as several litigation and AAT decisions'.
Similar difficulties with the implementation of ITQs have been experienced in state managed fisheries. A current example is the proposed introduction of ITQs in the Tasmanian crayfish fishery. This proposal has met with significant industry resistance which has resulted in the announcement of a review by the Tasmanian Legislative Council Select Committee. Overseas fisheries have suffered similar problems. For example, the ITQ system introduced into the Canadian halibut fishery has been sucessfully challenged in court with respect to the approach taken to allocation.
A number of the problems experienced to date, such as ineffective and costly monitoring, discarding and dissatisfaction with allocations can be related to the improper design and implementation of ITQ systems as opposed to difficulties intrinsic to ITQs.
Despite the above mentioned difficulties in implementing and operating ITQ systems, there is a strong and growing focus on the use of these management instruments. If implementation mistakes of the past are not to be repeated, a compilation of the practical experiences of ITQs and analysis of the operational difficulties experienced would be useful. What is needed is a non-theoretical, easily understood, operational guide to ITQs.
References
South East Fishery Adjustment Working Group (1996), 'Report to the Minister of Resources and Energy of the South East Fishery Adjustment Working Group', Canberra. Objectives: 1. Compilation of operational ITQ experiences in Australia and selected other countries 2. Analysis of the practical difficulties faced in the implementation and operation of ITQs 3. Develop guidelines to assist fishery managers and industry in the implementation of ITQ systems Read moreRead less
Evaluation Of Alternative Strategies For Management Of Commonwealth Fisheries In Southeastern Australia
Funder
Fisheries Research and Development Corporation
Funding Amount
$1,429,399.00
Summary
As part of a move towards EBFM, there is a clear need to identify the variety of management measures in place across fisheries within the region, and to evaluate a range of comprehensive and “integrated” management strategies that would best meet the needs of all fisheries across the full range of management objectives. The AFMA Board has recently signalled that it wants the MACs in the region to consider these issues, and particularly the implementation of a wider mix of strategies for managing ....As part of a move towards EBFM, there is a clear need to identify the variety of management measures in place across fisheries within the region, and to evaluate a range of comprehensive and “integrated” management strategies that would best meet the needs of all fisheries across the full range of management objectives. The AFMA Board has recently signalled that it wants the MACs in the region to consider these issues, and particularly the implementation of a wider mix of strategies for managing fisheries, including time and area closures and gear modifications, in addition to existing output controls such as TACs. This project will assemble the information and provide the analytical tools to undertake such evaluations. A carefully evaluated set of management strategies would support the existing management process (including the MACs, AFMA management, and the National Oceans Office) in developing an operational management plan for south eastern fisheries that is tightly integrated with other uses of the marine environment in the region, including implementation of the National Representative System of Marine Protected Areas and of the South East Regional Marine Plan. If such a plan can be developed, it would put these fisheries and Australia at the forefront of practical implementation of EBFM. The need is to have all the issues, objectives and options on the table at the same time, to consider simultaneously the impacts of a set of management arrangements in addressing each issue and objective, and to support a process that will arrive at a comprehensive and balanced outcome considering all fishery sectors and all other legitimate stakeholders with interests in the region. Objectives: 1. Identify the key economic and environmental issues facing the Shark, SET, SENT and GAB fisheries. 2. Identify the regional and fishery specific management objectives and strategies, encompassing the full range of management measures that are able to be adopted in the SESSF. 3. Evaluate integrated management strategies against regional and fishery specific management objectives:· Qualitative evaluation by February 2007· Preliminary quantitative evaluation by February 2007· Quantitative evaluation by September 2007 4. Make available evaluated strategies to AFMA, relevant MACs and other stakeholders. Read moreRead less
Developing Innovative And Cost-effective Tools For Monitoring Recreational Fishing In Commonwealth Fisheries
Funder
Fisheries Research and Development Corporation
Funding Amount
$174,997.69
Summary
Population growth in coastal cities, increasing tourism-based fishing, increasing effectiveness of searching (GPS) and capture (tackle) technologies, and competition for more accessible inshore fish species have contributed to an increasing number of recreational fishers travelling further offshore to target Commonwealth-managed species such as billfishes, tunas and shelf species. Griffiths and Pepperell (2006) documented that recreational fishers in Australia interact with over 1164 taxa of fis ....Population growth in coastal cities, increasing tourism-based fishing, increasing effectiveness of searching (GPS) and capture (tackle) technologies, and competition for more accessible inshore fish species have contributed to an increasing number of recreational fishers travelling further offshore to target Commonwealth-managed species such as billfishes, tunas and shelf species. Griffiths and Pepperell (2006) documented that recreational fishers in Australia interact with over 1164 taxa of fish and may have a significant interaction with 20 Commonwealth fisheries. However, the current extent of recreational fishing impacts on these species are poorly known. Consequently, in 2006 ComFRAB identified this significant knowledge gap as a high research priority.
The long-term sustainability and equitable sharing (resource allocation) of Commonwealth-managed fish species is dependent upon good fisheries management. Management decisions are ultimately guided by accurate stock assessments that integrate all possible fishing mortality sources, which include commercial, recreational and indigenous fisheries. However, due to the low interaction between recreational fishers and Commonwealth-managed species in the past, the management of recreational fishing has largely been the responsibility of the states.
Numerous recreational fishing surveys have been undertaken in coastal, estuarine and freshwater systems by state fisheries agencies, focusing on local issues or a subset of species. However, the complexity and expense of collecting broad-based recreational catch and effort data for offshore species in Commonwealth waters has seen the problem addressed in very few instances, mainly by opportunistic surveys by state fisheries agencies at fishing tournaments. As a consequence, long-term information on recreational catches of Commonwealth-managed species is currently inadequate for inclusion in stock assessments. Therefore, a more concerted effort is required to monitor recreational fishing in Commonwealth fisheries. This will provide important information to guide management in order to ensure the sustainability and equitable allocation of fish resources shared by recreational and commercial sectors.
Objectives: 1. Undertake a comprehensive review of the global literature relating to the existing methods used to monitor recreational fishing, which may be transferable to Commonwealth fisheries 2. Develop innovative operational and statistical tools for collecting, integrating and analysing recreational fisheries data, for the purpose of integration into stock assessment and to support resource allocation in Commonwealth fisheries 3. Recommend a cost-effective and statistically robust long-term recreational fisheries monitoring program for Commonwealth fisheries Read moreRead less